Maria Nikolayevna Yermolova (1853–1928) was an outstanding dramatic actress of the Maly Theatre; she created vivid tragic images of Joan of Arc, Mary Stuart, Lady Macbeth, as well as of heroines of works by A.N. Ostrovsky, H. Ibsen and other authors. The portrait was painted for the 35th anniversary of Yermolova's stage career, hence its monumental quality. The artist succeeded in incarnating the ideal of heroic artistry, full of austere grandeur. The asceticism of the form is underlined by a muted colour scheme and rigorous architectonics of the composition, in which the actress’ figure resembles a column. That sensation is enhanced by a double point of view – from above and from below - compounded by the reflection in the back wall mirror. The model's exalted face is full of prophetic grandeur. Portrait features are combined with mythologisation of the image. Yermolova resembles a priestess in the temple of arts.
State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow